Things I Learned The Hard Way

Ine Dehandschutter @matuvu

www.matuvu.nu

Bizcamp.be 2012

The business adventures of a freelancer

Hi,I’m Ine,

a (web)designer & photographer, currently based in Ghent, Belgium.

(I’m also lead designer of Emphas.is)

I have been a freelancer since 2000. And I made loooooads of mistakes during the years.

You don’t have to!

Enjoy this presentation. If you do, don’t hesitate to like

& share it,

@matuvu

because you will. suffer. cry. blood. tears. die. over and over again.

Have A Dream To Die For

@matuvu

use S.M.A.R.T principle: specific.measurable.achievable.relevant.time framed.

Outline Your Plan

@matuvu

because if you don’t earn, you have no bread on your table. (define what you need by calculating all your costs) not earning enough? reconsider your business plan!

Define Your Wage

@matuvu

a good accountant can save you a lot of money, but most of all a good accountant thinks along with you!

Get A Good Accountant

@matuvu

never. ever. work for free. unless it is for your mom.

(infographic: jessica hische: http://jessicahische.is/awesome)

Don’t Sell Cheap

@matuvu

when you can, ditch the friends, family and fools. they’re perfect for starters,

but bad for pro’s.

Find Real Clients

@matuvu

learn from the 20% 80% rule: 20% stand for 80% of your trouble.

keep the good clients, ditch the others.

Teach Those Clients

@matuvu

and follow up your cash flow. don’t play bank to your clients.

no money on the bank = no bread on the table.

Charge Fast

@matuvu

it is the best way to find exiting new clients. or to find new partners.

or to do fun stuff.

Network

@matuvu

the best way to loose your uncertainties is to talk to colleagues. unite with others.

(consider co-working, join certain business groups, ...)

Surround Yourself

@matuvu

measure everything you do. your time, your projects. your profits.

learn from your mistakes. and do it better.

Measure, Evaluate

@matuvu

try it: nononono. it will earn you more.

if not in money, in quality.

Learn To Say No

No@matuvu

don’t spend to ‘save taxes’. if you pay taxes you keep 50%. if you spend you keep nothing.

Save For Later

@matuvu

make time for your personal life ‘later’ = ‘now’

it is gone before you know.

Live The Now

@matuvu

be prepared to fail, to change, to adapt. sometimes stuff works, sometimes not.

Most Of All Be Flexible

@matuvu

It Is A Bumpy But Adventurous Ride

@matuvu

Thank YouIne Dehandschutter

(web)designer & photographer & talker

www.matuvu.nu @matuvu

www.linkedin.com/in/matuvu

www.slideshare.com/matuvu